Abortion buck has been passed yet again

Another sad case in the hospitals has shown up a lack of legislative action. Again. Dr Adam McAuley reports

People have questioned the High Court’s role in the case of the pregnant woman who is braindead and on a life-support machine and why families cannot make these decisions.

Irish law does not permit family members to make decisions on behalf of an adult relative who has lost the intellectual capacity to make his or her own decisions. This court is the only forum available to resolve a disagreement between clinicians and family members about medical intervention for such an adult.